Get the official SA Government mobile app

Deputy President to officiate at Youth Day

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has requested Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to officiate at the Youth Day commemorations in Galeshewe, in the Northern Cape, on Monday.

This follows the change of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) date from 19 June to 17 June.

The theme of Youth Day is "Youth Moving South Africa Forward".

The date, 16 June, marks the anniversary of the Soweto Uprisings which tragically ended with hundreds of young people killed by the apartheid government when they protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.

According to the Presidency, President Zuma is expected to spend 16 June working on the SONA.

In his address, which will be the first sitting of the fifth Parliament, the President is expected to outline the new administration’s Programme of Action.

“He requested Parliament to bring forward the SONA date to the 17th to enable him to attend the African Union Summit in Equatorial Guinea on 25-26 June, the dates that were initially scheduled for the SONA debate,” said the Presidency.

The SONA debate will now take place on 18 and 19 June with the President’s reply to the debate on the 20th.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will also deliver the eulogy at the funeral of Epainette Mbeki, mother of former President Thabo Mbeki in Idutywa in the Eastern Cape on Saturday. He will be accompanied by Minister in the Presidency and Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on State Funerals, Jeff Radebe. – SAnews.gov.za

SA News on Facebook

With the festive season in sight, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) will be tightening security at its prisons through Operation Vala to combat festive season escapes.
Operation Vala (a Nguni word meaning close) is an annual intervention aimed at tightening security to prevent festive season related escapes and assaults whic... See more

Parliament has announced it will oppose the court application by AfriForum to have the report of Parliament’s Joint Constitutional Review Committee on amending section 25 of the Constitution set aside.
Earlier this year, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces instructed the committee to undertake a process to establ... See more

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on Wednesday tabled the Carbon Tax Bill in Parliament, giving effect to the announcements made in the 2017 and 2018 Budget statements.
Tabling the bill, Mboweni stated that “climate change poses the greatest threat facing humankind, and South Africa intends to play its role in the world as part of the globa... See more

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has sent condolences to the family of a Grade 1 pupil who was stabbed to death at Dikeledi Makapan Primary School in the North West on Wednesday.
The unnamed pupil was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a Grade 11 pupil from Mankala Technical High School.
“It is alleged that the suspect appar... See more

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Zweli Mkhize has expressed condolences to the nation of AmaMpondomise following the death of Queen Nolitha Matiwane.
In a message to Queen Noloyiso Sandile of AmaRharhabe at Mngqesha Great Place, Mkhize said the loss caused immeasurable pain to any Royal Family and the publ... See more